News Report #3

News Report #3

“Barnes & Noble unveils its first hi-definition tablets”

Phil Wahba

9/26/2012

http://news.yahoo.com/barnes-noble-takes-aims-amazon-apple-hd-nook-050306151.html

Barnes & Nobel has released its first hi-definition tablets. According to analysts, these new tablets will keep Barnes & Nobel “in the fight with Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc. and Google Inc.-for now.” Microsoft has agreed to invest $605 million in the Nook e-reader over the next five years.  While this new e-reader is an improvement from past e-readers, it will be difficult for Barnes & Nobel to continue to unleash new products because the corporation is financially smaller than others (even with the help from Microsoft).This new tablet is lighter and thinner for easy readability compared to its rivals, like the I-Pad. Barnes & Nobel is in constant competition with Amazon’s e-reader devices. And currently, Amazon holds 60% of the U.S e-book market. According to Forrester’s Epps, Barnes & Nobel is trying to transition its established clientele “onto the digital platform.” These new hi-definition tablets allow each member of a family to create their own home page and tailor preferences. The tablet also possesses controls to block children from inappropriate content. Because the majority of Barnes & Nobel’s customer base read books and magazines, the tablet features new page-turning technologies and increased image resolution.

I have never owned an e-reading device, but my mother loves the Kindle e-readers. She would be interested in these new features that the Kindle lacks. Barnes & Nobel created a smart and sensible e-reader for families. As opposed to everyone having their own e-reader, it can be shared by family members, while still keeping each person’s settings intact. I think that Barnes & Nobel is going in the right direction, realizing that people are moving to digital reading, with its ideas of how to keep its customers and gain new ones. Even though the company is pursuing new and improved ideas and technologies with its e-readers, the fact that their financial means are not limitless, Barnes & Nobel will still be competing with companies that have infinite means. It is hard to predict what will eventually become of Barnes & Nobel, but unless they can dramatically increase their profits while maintaining their customer base, I predict they will share the same end as Borders: bankruptcy.    

Activity/Reading #2

My evaluation of Criteria:

When finding information via the internet, I first examine the website where the information is located. If the website is built improperly or makeshift in appearance, I automatically decrease the credibility of the information. The URL can also help determine the credibility of information. For example, .gov websites tend to provide more credibility than a .com website. Next, I read the content. If there are grammar or spelling mistakes, I usually stop reading and move onto another source. Honestly, I do not thoroughly check the information. I am usually in a hurry when researching, and I take information that “looks” credible.

Readings:

Mark Bauerlein’s article, “Authority Figures,” discusses the ranking and popularity process of information that is displayed from search engines. Bauerlein mentions Michael Petrilli’s experiment that dealt with search engines and what criteria is used when displaying search results from a search engine i.e Google. Petrilli’s experiment found that Wikipedia was almost always the number one search result for all of his searches. Intelligent Positioning discovered that Wikipedia is the top position on 56 percent of all Google searches (wow!). Bauerlein implies how he feels about Wikipedia when he states, “…Wikipedia has only broadened its leviathan reach.” Leviathan refers to a demonic creature or monster (dictionary.com). Bauerlein also addresses the irony between the founder of Wikipedia to the principals behind Wikipedia. Bauerlein claims that Wikipedia is the opposite of what the founder stands for. The subjects of print encyclopedias (Britannica) were questioned. Britannica costs almost 14 grand while using a Wikipedia is free. Some people may feel more secure having a bound encyclopedia but those people also must have the money to afford it.

The article, “Information Navigation 101,” by Andrea Foster addresses the importance of “information literacy.” While search engines provide endless amounts of information, students are having trouble being able to decipher which information is credible and which is not. Librarians have taken it upon themselves to try and aid students in this process by teaching them research skills (our library 103 class applies). These research skills are tools to help find reliable sources for information. Foster notes that, in the past, some colleges had these types of programs, but now almost every college has information literacy classes.  Along with taking information literacy classes, schools are having students take standardized tests to show they are information literate.  The article also mentions how some professors are against any information that is not from a printed source.

Life Before the Internet

Growing up with the internet has recently become a way of life for most people, me included. The internet is a powerful tool that can be used to find information and to gain knowledge about anything that interests a person. It opens up the world to you, and it satisfies your curiosities.

Prior to the internet, people’s lives were very different. I interviewed my 63 year old mother about her life without the internet. She explained that for all homework assignments or research assignments, libraries and encyclopedias were her “best friends.” She said that, “most people had an encyclopedia at home, but if they didn’t, they had to use the library.” Throughout my mother’s school years and college years, she spent a lot of time in the library.

Instead of playing video games, playing online games or instant messaging friends, my mother filled her free time with visits to the beach, zoo and movies. A major difference is that some children and adults do not go outside, because they are too consumed with their electronics. When asked how she was able to keep in touch with people, she said, “I would telephone them and write letters.”  

Although my mother managed to live 49 years of her life without the internet, she wished that it had been around her whole life. “It makes life so much easier and convenient.” She also explained that she felt that she missed out on a lot of knowledge, because if no one around her new an answer to her question, or if she could not go to the library, she never discovered the answer.

Today, youth and adults can become engulfed with the internet. Dokoupil’s article, “Is the Onslaught Making Us Crazy?” illustrates prime examples of how strongly the mind can be overtaken by the internet. It is important to first realize that habits can be broken, but only if the individual wants those habits to be broken. The problem is that the internet is intriguing and full of possibilities. Because of this, individuals do not want to break internet habits; they do not want to miss a beat. For example, the article discusses Jason Russell who became consumed after his web documentary on Joseph Kony exploded onto the web. After the “madness,” Russel was diagnosed with “reactive psychosis.”

It is astonishing that 50 years ago or even 30 years ago, people could not have imagined these kinds of internet breakdowns. Let alone the internet.

News Report #1

News Report #1

“New Research Finds Public Awareness Gap about Ebooks in Libraries”

Larra Clark, American Libraries

7/11/12

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/07112012/new-research-finds-public-awareness-gap-about-ebooks-libraries

A report was conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project concerning the use of ebooks by library users along with non-card holders. The report found that the majority of library users (card holders) were unsure if their libraries even provided ebooks. This research was performed from November 2011 to May 2012. There were several thousand people 16 years old and up who participated in the study. Along with ignorance about the availability of library ebooks, the study discovered that over half of ebook borrowers enjoyed the library’s ebook selections but a good chunk of those people reported that they could not borrow their desired ebook or were put on a wait list. The study will inform and help libraries figure out what their patrons want in regards to ebooks. Not surprisingly, many participants in the study claim that it is easier to obtain an ebook from another source (other than the library). Pew’s study also found that almost sixty-percent of the total surveyed possessed a library card and of those people, sixty-nine-percent acknowledge the importance of libraries for them and their families. The study brought to light that many individuals would like their library to offer classes on the process of downloading ebooks to ereaders or on to other various handheld devices. A new study will soon be conducted involving library services and the public’s opinion.

I did not realize that this was something to research until I read the article. If I were to be a part of the study, I would have to admit that I am unsure if my library has ebooks. To be honest, I had never thought about it. From reading the article, I see that libraries are trying to make a conscious effort to keep up with the times the best that they can. Being that advancements in technology are ever continuing, it’s understandable that libraries may fall behind but they continue to try and catch-up. I was surprised at the number of individuals ,who frequent libraries, that were so unclear about its services and book forms. I am glad I stumbled upon this article, because I am now aware of some problems libraries face and that they need to educate their patrons on what can be provided.